How to recover WhatsApp chat history and media files

Media files and data received in WhatsApp are saved by the program, but sometimes it happens that the chat history is completely cleared. It can be an accidental formatting of a memory card, viral software corruption, physical drive damage, or trite phone replacement. In this article, we will explain how to recover chat history and media files in WhatsApp using convenient and fast methods.

Deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp

The WhatsApp messenger, by default, stores the message history for seven days. If you have deleted your chat history, you can remove and reinstall the program. To do this, uninstall the application from your phone and install again. During the installation process, all you need to do is confirm that your old correspondence will be restored. It should be noted that this method will restore the messages sent during the week. All more past messages will disappear.

Recovering older data by deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp

To restore older chats and files, you need to change the last file where the history is stored.

To do this, you need to install any file manager on your phone and go to the folder:

sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.

This folder contains files with history. The recovery files are named: msgstore.db.crypt12, msgstore-2018-12-20.db.crypt12 etc.

The first and last file to restore is msgstore.db.crypt12, which is used to load the chat history when reinstalling the app. To return older chats, you need to find the file with the desired date and rename it to msgstore.db.crypt12 after deleting the first file.

After renaming, just remove the application from your phone and reinstall it as in the first method.

Data recovery using special software

To restore chat history, you can use third-party programs designed to restore data after formatting a memory card.

One of the most convenient recovery utilities is RS Partition Recovery. With this program, you can quickly recover lost data that was deleted earlier. First, you should install RS Partition Recovery and then use it to analyze the sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases folder.

In the scanned folder, you will see files with the names msgstore.db.crypt12 and msgstore-2018-12-20.1.db.crypt12 or other dates. Search for the file with the desired date, restore it using RS Partition Recovery, rename the restored file to msgstore.db.crypt12 and transfer sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. After that you have to delete WhatsApp and install again as described in the first method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is possible to recover deleted WhatsApp chat history and media files. WhatsApp automatically creates backups of your chats and media files on your device's storage or cloud services like Google Drive or iCloud. You can restore these backups to recover your deleted data. However, it is important to note that these backups may only be available for a limited time and may not include the most recent data.

To recover WhatsApp chat history and media files, follow these steps: 1. Uninstall WhatsApp from your device. 2. Reinstall WhatsApp from the app store. 3. Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number. 4. You will be prompted to restore your chat history. Tap on "Restore" to recover your chats. 5. Once the chat history is restored, you can also recover media files by downloading them from the respective chats or groups. 6. Your WhatsApp chat history and media files should now be recovered.

No, it is not possible to recover WhatsApp data if you haven't backed it up. WhatsApp does not store your messages on their servers, so without a backup, the data is only stored locally on your device. If you lose or delete the data without a backup, it cannot be recovered. It is recommended to regularly backup your WhatsApp data to avoid any potential loss.

Yes, there are limitations and restrictions when recovering WhatsApp chat history and media files. Some of the limitations include: 1. Time limit: You can only recover chat history and media files that were backed up within the last 7 days. 2. Device compatibility: The recovery process may vary depending on the device and operating system you are using. 3. Storage space: You need enough storage space on your device or cloud storage to restore the chat history and media files. 4. Encryption: If your chat history is encrypted, it may not be possible to recover it without the necessary encryption keys. 5. Third-party apps: Some third-party apps or tools may have limitations or restrictions on recovering WhatsApp data.